Milk-can lock.



D. J. THAYER.

MILK GAN LOCK. PPMGATION FILED APRA, 1910.

962,801. Patented June 28,1910. I

Gili-'l INVENTOR WITNESSES DEXTER J. THAYER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MILK-CAN LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Application filed April 4, 1910. Serial No. 553,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DEXTER J. Ti-IAYER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Can Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to milk can locks, and the objects of my invention are to provide a can with positive and reliable means for securing the lid in a closed position upon the can, and to furnish a can with a lock that will prevent the contents of the can from being tampered with or surreptitiously removed.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a lock that can be used in connection with various types of cans, and further to provide a lock that is simple in construct-ion, durable, inexpensive tomanufacture and highly efficient for the purposes for which it is intended.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein there are illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape and manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawing r-Figure 1 is a 'vertical cross sectional view of a portion of a can provided with the lock, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of one of the locking arms, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end of a modified form of locking arm, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a port-ion of one of the bearings adapted to be used in connection with the lock.

In the accompanying drawing the reference numeral 1 denotes the neck of a can as having the upper edge thereof reamed or provided with a wire edge 9. of a conventional form. Fitted in the neck 1 is the depending flange 3 of a dome shaped lid or cover 4, and centrally of the lid or cover 4 is a resilient strap or spring 5 having the ends G thereof bent together, said spring in elevation conforming to a link and having the central portion thereof secured to the lid or cover 4 by a rivet 7 or other fastening means. The object of this spring will presently appear.

Secured to the outer sides of the neck 1 are diametrically opposed straps 8 having the upper ends thereof off-set, as at 9 to provide clearance for the reamed or wire edge 2 of the neck, said straps having the extreme ends thereof bifurcated, as at 10 and provided with oppositely disposed apertured lugs 11.

Pivotally mounted between the apertured lugs 11 by pins 12 are the outer ends of over-- lapping locking arms 13 and 14, the arm 14 being ol-set, as at 15 to extend over the arm 13, and the central portions of bot-h arms are oE-set, as at 16 thus providing clearance for the spring 5. The pivoted end of the arm 13 is provided with a staple 17 and the outer or free end of the arm 14 is provided with an elongated opening or slot 18 through which the staple 17 is adapted to extend, whereby a seal 19 or other locking device can be placed in engagement with the staple 17 to retain the overlapping arms in a closed position upon the lid or cover 4.

To prevent the spring 5 from being injured or tampered with, the lid or cover 4 is provided with oppositely disposed curved handles 2O located at the sides of the spring 5, these handles also providing a grip whereby the lid or cover 4 can be removed from the can.

In lieu of pivoting the arms between the lugs 11 as just described, the outer ends of the arms can be made hook-shaped, as designated 21, Fig. 4, whereby when the arms are swung to an open position they can be easily removed, thereby preventing the arms from being accidentally broken or interfering with the operation of removing the lid from the can.

Vhen the seal or locking device 19 is removed from the staple 17, the tension of the spring 5 is sufiicient to force the arms 13 and 14 upwardly, thus allowing the same to be easily gripped and swung to an open position, whereby the lid or cover 4 can be quickly removed.

The lock in its entirety is made of light and durable metal and as no part thereof is located upon the interior of the lid, the contents of the can can be maintained in a sanitary condition.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is:-

l. In a milk can lock, a can neck, a lid adapted to ft in said neck, diametrically opposed bearings carried by said neck, a resilient element carried by the lid and oVerlapping .locking members pivotally supported by said bearings and adapted to lock said lid in a closed position the inner of said members engaging said elements whereby said elements will be held in abutting engagement.

2. In a milk can lock, a can neck, a lid fitted in said neck, diametrically opposed bearings carried by said neck, overlapping arms pivotally supported by said bearings and adapted to retain said lid in a closed position, and means in connection with said arms and adapted to lock said arms in a closed and overlapped position.

3. In a milk can lock, the combination with a milk can neck, and a lid adapted to ft in said neck, of a spring located centrally of said lid, overlapping` arms pivotally snpported at the sides of said neck and adapted to extend over said spring, and handles carried by said lid at the sides of said spring.

4. In a milk can lock, the combination with a milk can neck, and a lid adapted to t in said neck, of a spring located centrally of said lid, overlapping arms pivotally supported at the sides of said neck and adapted to extend over said spring, handles carried by said lid at the sides of said spring, and means in connection with said arms and adapted to lock said arms in a closed position.

5. In a milk can lock, the combination with a milk can neck, and a lid adapted to fit therein, of a spring located centrally of said lid, oppositely disposed bearings carried by said neck, overlapping arms pivotally connected to said bearings and adapted to extend over said spring, handles carried by said lid at the sides of said spring, and means in connection with said arms and adapted to lock said arms in a closed p0si tion, said means including a staple adjacent to the pivoted end of one of said arms and adapted to extend through the free end of the other of said arms.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DEXTER J. THAYER.

itnesses Max H. SROLOVITZ, K. H. BUTLER. 

